Convert me if you can

[VT_Hokie]

Gents, I'm a boar guy.

I like the price, the backbone, the soft tips, etc.

I use triple milled soaps 90% of the time.

I face lather 100% of the time.

I suppose what I'm looking for would be described as a soap shredder with extreme backbone and very soft tips.

Not looking to drop 150-200 on a brush, so around the 100 area would be fine

So what do you think? Can you prescribe me something to convert me?

 

[Greyfox]

If you like what you are using and are satisfied you should stick with it. If you want to expand your experience a bit get a Simpson D2 or D3 in best priced at about $105. The deal to me is to make myself happy.

 

[AJMiami]

I use to be a "boar" guy, until I bought a simpson brush...be careful, you can open the SBAD door and spend several 100s in brushes..

at $100....I would suggest, Simpson Duke 2/3, Classic 2, Colonel, Rooney 1/1

 

[djh]

I would second AJ's suggestions. I own a Duke2, the B+B Eagle and a Classic2- they are all fantastic soap brushes and perfect for face lathering. I also have a Rooney 1/2 (and I can imagine that the 1/1 would fit your needs) but have not yet tried the Colonel.

 

[Mike'sWorld]

Keep in mind, of course, that any brush of that quality can be easily flipped if you don't like it and you can recoup most of your cost.

 

[stobor]

I've always used boar brushes too, with one exception (a "Tweezerman" badger, not very good).

I recently acquired a good badger from a gent on this forum for a great price, so I'll be able to try a good badger without offending the cheapskate inside me. We'll see how it goes...

-Scott.

 

[Tha Baron]

Chubby 1 Best

 

[VT_Hokie]

Seems like the Duke and Chubby are pretty popular. I'll give 'em a look.

Probably go with whatever is denser and has the shortest loft.

 

[Kevan]

If you're a boar guy that's happy with what you've got, there's really no reason to go to badger because a good badger for the products you use probably will run from $80 well into the hundreds and there will be no significant epiphany-like difference.

Short, dense badgers retain heat and moisture a little better than a boar and might perform a little better on certain soaps (e.g. Trumpers) but they're also lather hogs.

That said, I've never used a Simpson.

 

[rickboone1]

Nope. Wouldn't try to convert you. No point in it. IF you don't already, I would HIGHLY recommend a Semogue boar. Other than that... I got nothing.

 

[VT_Hokie]

Nope. Wouldn't try to convert you. No point in it. IF you don't already, I would HIGHLY recommend a Semogue boar. Other than that... I got nothing.

They're all I own

The 1470 is my go-to right now, but I can't wait for my custom group buy brush to get here

 

[Kevan]

They're all I own

The 1470 is my go-to right now, but I can't wait for my custom group buy brush to get here

You and me too. Let's hope customs hasn't destroyed them. To be honest, I'm a little worried that the loft is too short because of the stiffness of boar hair but we'll see.

 

[Drybonz]

So what do you think? Can you prescribe me something to convert me?

Sounds like you already have something that you like and is working well for you... I would say stick with it.

I have 2 slot brush rack right under my medicine cabinet. I hang a custom Rudy Vey best badger and a Semogue 830 from it. The Rudy Vey gets more action, but I still grab the boar from time to time.

Just go with whatever you like best.

 

[Hex]

Just a caution about loft.

I recently bought a Duke 3 and it's my best brush so far.
When I was poking around looking for the best price, I saw the add on the
T&H site which stated a loft of 46mm.
http://www.truefittandhill.com/detail_50003__48.html

It turns out that my brush's actual loft is 49mm but I am very happy with it.

If the loft is critical to you, you might take a look at Superior Shave where they measure the brushes and if you want a 46mm, that's the one you will get.
http://thesuperiorshave.com/Simpsons_Brushes.html#D3
Their measurements now are :
Approximate lofts of 46/51/51/47/51mm (#1, far left, #5, far right)

I am pretty sure that I will get my next brush from them, sabbatical be damned.

 

[Drewser]

Nope. Wouldn't try to convert you. No point in it. IF you don't already, I would HIGHLY recommend a Semogue boar. Other than that... I got nothing.

+1. The Semogue boars are amazing brushes. I have an 830 and a 1460 and now have no reason to buy another badger.

 

[Marco]

I use to be a "boar" guy, until I bought a simpson brush...be careful, you can open the SBAD door and spend several 100s in brushes..

at $100....I would suggest, Simpson Duke 2/3, Classic 2, Colonel, Rooney 1/1

All those above, plus the Rooney 3/1 Silvertip.

 

[Sledgehammer39]

Gents, I'm a boar guy.

I like the price, the backbone, the soft tips, etc.

I use triple milled soaps 90% of the time.

I face lather 100% of the time.

I suppose what I'm looking for would be described as a soap shredder with extreme backbone and very soft tips.

Not looking to drop 150-200 on a brush, so around the 100 area would be fine

So what do you think? Can you prescribe me something to convert me?

I am sort of in the same boat. I have an EJ Badger brush and it's nice but I get my best performance from the Omega Boar Brush line.

 

[talibeard]

For $100 you could have several Vulfix boars with lathe turned handles.

I know what I would do. (I also kinda like Simpsons best with shorter lofts, but they are not boar!)

 

[SliceOfLife]

Simpson's Best line are great. In order of how much I Like them (of the ones I've tried vulfix-made models:

Chubby
Eagle (G3 Best, LE, no longer sold)
-lose a noticeable amount of backbone here-
Duke
-lose a noticeable amount of backbone here-
Special
-lose a noticeable amount of backbone here-
Berkeley 46
-lose a noticeable amount of backbone here-
Wee scot

Of that list, Special is small, probably the smallest brush I would say is an ok daily brush. Wee scot is tiny. I keep mine around mostly as a collector (I have reset the knot in an ivory turnback handle). The rest are all relatively similar sizes (based on a Chubby 1 and Duke 2)

Frankly if you don't like a Chubby 1 or 2 in best, I doubt you'll like any badger brush.

Once you've got a nice Simpson Best then I'd grab a TGN Finest custom/restore with a loft in the 40-50mm range. Between those two brushes, you've got 90% of what Badger has to offer. There are a lot of other brushes worth owning if you have the money, but imho a nice stiff 2 band and a dense, scrubby Simpson best are the real basics of what Badger hair is. And those are the relatively cheap "starter" pieces. If you like what you see, then I'd start looking at picking up nice fluffy Chubby Supers or Stubby XL's, or even digging up a Rooney Finest. But for a first quality badger brush? I have to say get a TGN finest restore or a smaller, denser Simpson best... or both.


I have to disagree with the popular Rooney Size 1 Super recommendations. A Berkeley 46 is a somewhat similar brush that beats it in every way in my opinion. I love Rooney's Finest and Stubby XL's, but their Supers aren't dense enough for my taste. Maybe for cream users. As a straight soap/face latherer myself, they don't have enough backbone for me seeing as cheaper options with more backbone are available from Simpson or TGN. And in my opinion their Super hair is an ok 3 band, but certainly not anything special that justifies sacrificing backbone for it.

 

[Klarion]

Haha, no way would I try to convert anyone away from the boar.....

You and me too. Let's hope customs hasn't destroyed them. To be honest, I'm a little worried that the loft is too short because of the stiffness of boar hair but we'll see.

Nah, I don't think it's going to be too short at all. The quality of the bristle is good, so the tips should prove to be gentle enough on your skin. I've used the 830 and 1305 pinched down, and find them to be just fine. Well, I was one of the guys pushing for a slightly larger diameter boar with the same loft, so my tastes may be a bit skewed.